Richards this morning——”

67

And now Star’s voice trembled, and the beating of her heart nearly choked her, for she did not know how this man would receive her appeal to him against his own wife.

“Well, and what did she say?” he asked, feeling somewhat perplexed over the matter.

“She told me that I could not go on with my education as papa wished; that—I was to take the place of a girl named Maggie Flynn in your family.”

“What!” exclaimed the gentleman, in tones of the most emphatic astonishment.

“Maggie Flynn, I understand,” Star went on, gathering courage as she noted his surprise, “was a sort of chamber and waiting-maid, and Mrs. Richards says that I am henceforth to perform her duties. I cannot tell you,” she continued, earnestly, “how repulsive such a life would be to me—to give up all my hopes, to forget, in the ceaseless routine of such an existence, all that I have already acquired; and I have come to appeal to you—to ask you if you will not try and persuade your wife to allow me to continue my studies? I am willing to work, and work hard, but I must have some time to improve and develop my mind. There are plenty of girls who can be employed in my place”—Star did not know of the curtailing business—“and who do not care for an education. Papa authorized a friend of his to dispose of his library and our household goods, and give the proceeds to me, after paying all bills. I have a letter of credit to the amount of a hundred pounds. I do not know the expense of schooling in this country, but could I not be sent to some institution for a year or two, and take this money to pay for it? I should be fitted 68by the end of that time, I think, to teach, and could relieve Mrs. Richards of all responsibility regarding my support.”

68

Mr. Richards’ face was very stern when the young girl concluded, and Star, looking into it, felt almost frightened at what she had done.

But she reasoned that her situation could not be much worse than it already was, and it demanded desperate measures.

CHAPTER VII. A CONSULTATION.

A CONSULTATION.

 Prev. P 50/329 next